(19)
(11) EP 0 687 925 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
27.03.1996 Bulletin 1996/13

(43) Date of publication A2:
20.12.1995 Bulletin 1995/51

(21) Application number: 95108052.2

(22) Date of filing: 26.05.1995
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)6G02B 6/12, G02B 6/13, G02B 6/30
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT NL

(30) Priority: 08.06.1994 JP 126529/94

(71) Applicant: HOECHST AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
D-65929 Frankfurt am Main (DE)

(72) Inventor:
  • Okaniwa, Kaoru, Dr.
    Hitachi-shi Ibaraki (JP)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Method of forming an optical coupling waveguide and a lightguide device having the optical coupling waveguide


    (57) A method of forming a polymeric optical coupling waveguide (1) on a principal lightguide (6) including a lightguiding layer (2), which comprises the steps of applying a photopolymerizable monomer or a photocrosslinkable or photopolymerizable polymer or a mixture thereof onto the principal lightguide (6), curing the polymeric optical coupling waveguide (1) by exposure through a mask, and removing the unreacted area of the applied coat with a suitable solvent.
    Other methods are exposure and solubilizing of a photosolubilizable polymer or photolithographic patterning of the cured polymer.
    The coupling waveguide may be tapered, with the bigger cross section towards the end face.







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